Munster v Connacht

Munster will be looking to consolidate their lead at the top of the table and should do so with Warwick in control of things at flyhalf having made the switch from full back.

Elsewhere Keith Earls will be another looking to impress in this final weekend before Lions selection although TomÃ¡s O'Leary may be slightly dissappointed not to get another chance to put down a marker with Stringer starting.

There's 1 change to the Connacht side with Troy Nathan starting in the centre.

It looks like a nicely balanced Munster team, the sheer power and physicality of Williams and Leamy in the backrow partnered with Ronan's speed, agility and competitiveness at the breakdown.

Earls and Murphy is very interesting, Earls did very well as 12 in the Churchill cup last summer, and give Murphy the ball and he can make something from nothing. With Stringer and Warwick running the show and the pace of Hurley and Howlett out wide it should hopefully be a very good game from a Munster point of view.

I have been told Nick Williams will be one to watch this evening, he has apparently lost a lot of weight, so the folks on the terraces won't be mixing him up with Tony Buckley any more but he is Incredibly powerful as well.

I rate Niva Ta'auso, but he isn't as much of a threat when partnered with Nathan, I'm happy that Mathews isn't playing as he is a far better player.

Indeed a great game. It's incredible that Barry Murphy, Denis Hurley, Niall Ronan, Donnacha Ryan and Peter Stringer aren't in our first team. All were very good, but Denis Hurley and Barry Murphy had f***ing spectacular games. Great to see Hurley playing with confidence again, as he is very talented.

Keith Earls is possibly the most talented player playing rugby in Ireland. Incredible again, by the end of the game you expected him to beat 3 defenders every time he got the ball. Shame that he had two tries taken off him by last ditch ankle taps after tearing the defence to bits. Doug was excellent too, although I was disappointed he didn't back himself in the build up to Freddie's try.

Doug was excellent too, although I was disappointed he didn't back himself in the build up to Freddie's try.[/b]

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Didn't see the game, but that looks like his trademark - set it up, rather than going for it. Wisdom of years and all that, but ...

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This was pretty much a straight run in from 25 metres out, all he had to do was put the foot down as he had no one in front of him, yet he passed to Baz who was in a much worse position than he was. Just though it was strange, most wingers would kill for a chance like that.

I'll be watching Cronin, Keatley and Carr with interest as it is my hope that a couple of those guys will end up at Munser at some stage![/b]

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By this do you hope that Munster get to poach these players in the future? How is that good for Irish and Connacht rugby?

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Most of the decent Connacht players a those that were in the acedemies in the other provinces and didn't yet have a realistic oppertunity for first team rugby in that province whether it be because there's alot of competition in that particular position or because that position needs more maturity or experience than they can get in an academy setting. So they're shipped off to Connacht to gain experience. So for example Keatley is from Leinster and Cronin from Munster (as far as I'm aware).

Connacht is hence a 'development region. They recieve about half the funding that the other provinces get. Seems a bit harsh but Connacht is very sparesly populated and doesn't really have the same potential for growth as the other provinces and I don't think the IRFU or player pool could realisticaly support 4 provinces. Hence the idea is 3 strong teams + developement team.

That's how it's good for Irish rugby and it's good for Connachy rugby because they'd be in a worse state if they didn't have the players sent over for development.

I'll be watching Cronin, Keatley and Carr with interest as it is my hope that a couple of those guys will end up at Munser at some stage![/b]

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<_<

By this do you hope that Munster get to poach these players in the future? How is that good for Irish and Connacht rugby?

[/b][/quote]

Most of the decent Connacht players a those that were in the acedemies in the other provinces and didn't yet have a realistic oppertunity for first team rugby in that province whether it be because there's alot of competition in that particular position or because that position needs more maturity or experience than they can get in an academy setting. So they're shipped off to Connacht to gain experience. So for example Keatley is from Leinster and Cronin from Munster (as far as I'm aware).

Connacht is hence a 'development region. They recieve about half the funding that the other provinces get. Seems a bit harsh but Connacht is very sparesly populated and doesn't really have the same potential for growth as the other provinces and I don't think the IRFU or player pool could realisticaly support 4 provinces. Hence the idea is 3 strong teams + developement team.

That's how it's good for Irish rugby and it's good for Connachy rugby because they'd be in a worse state if they didn't have the players sent over for development.

I hope my answer suffices.
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So Connact rugby fans support their team knowing their a second fiddle team to the big three and are content with being wooden spoon favourites every season?

It might not be good for Connacht, but it is good for the development of the players (and the players themselves) to be exposed to a higher standard of rugby at Munster or Leinster. For example current Munster, Ireland and probably Lions hooker Jerry Flannery was down the pecking order at Munster and getting no game time, he went to Connacht for a year or two and got consistent game time and came back a better player.

Connacht are in reality poor team, with a small budget. It is in there best interest to sign young players from Munster and Leinster and promise them game time, as they will almost always be better than the players Connacht have. It's a win win situation really, Connacht get better players, and the players get more game time.

In Connacht's team last night they had Sean Cronin (Munster), Frank Murphy (Munster), Ian Keatley (Leinster), Fionn Carr (Leinster), these guys are all talented players but won't get game time at their home province because of the international quality players ahead of them.